Germany’s Initiative to Switch from Planes to Trains
With the travel industry seeking ways to reduce carbon emissions generated by air travel, Germany has developed initiatives to encourage more people to opt for trains over planes for domestic routes.
New High-Speed Rail Connections
The German Aviation Association, in collaboration with rail company Deutsche Bahn, aims to enhance high-speed rail connections on routes currently served by short-haul flights. Furthermore, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn have already unveiled plans to run additional fast DB “Sprinter” trains to Frankfurt Airport from five new cities as part of expanding the Lufthansa Express Rail network.
Service Launch Timeline
The new service from Hamburg and Munich will commence in July, while the service from Berlin, Bremen, and Münster will start in December. Additionally, new Sprinter connections will be introduced in December, dramatically shortening the rail journey between Munich and Cologne to less than four hours. There will also be direct trains to Frankfurt Airport twice daily from Munich and Nuremberg, servicing travel times of three and two hours respectively without additional stops. Consequently, these schedules will align perfectly with the departure and arrival of flights at Lufthansa’s hub, enabling travelers from outside Frankfurt to bypass domestic flights while arriving punctually for longer flights at the expansive airport.
Commitment to Sustainability
As noted by the German Aviation Association, aviation is responsible for 2.8% of global CO2 emissions, and air transport contributes to 3-5% of global warming. The Master Plan for Climate Protection in Aviation states that German aviation firms are dedicated to achieving carbon-neutral operations at airports and on flights. If successful, this initiative aims to persuade approximately 4.3 million individuals each year to select train travel over planes for domestic routes. Further insights can be acquired on the German Aviation Association’s website here.
